Els De Ridder

With a wealth of experience in sustainability management and impact communication, innovation, and business development, Els has the expertise to assist you in making your business work for the greater good while remaining profitable. Els firmly believes that purposeful entrepreneurship is the cornerstone of a healthy company.

To achieve this, Els offers strategic and practical support in various areas, including defining core values, creating road maps, setting measurable goals, and anchoring sustainability in your positioning. In addition, she recognizes that effectively communicating your company's road map and objectives internally and externally is vital to transforming an idea into action.

In addition to offering advice, Els collaborates closely with your team to create reports, concrete plans for internal and external brand values, KPI monitoring, and impactful communication or marketing plans. Her expertise is bringing values to life through internal and external branding communication.

Els dreams of building a tangible place where innovators can come together to build the future.

“Surely, in the light of history, it is more intelligent to hope rather than to fear, to try rather than not to try. For one thing we know beyond all doubt: Nothing has ever been achieved by the person who says, ‘It can’t be done.’

Eleanor Roosevelt

My expertise

Pitch creation

Communicating your impact DNA

What if workshops

Getting customers

Positioning in your market

Transition and system design

Impact KPI setting and road maps

ESG KPI setting and road maps

Transition to sustainability: road maps

Impact storytelling

Storytelling Inspiration

Building your impact story

Share your story with your team

Share your story with the world

What is greenwashing, what is impact washing

Circular Business Model Training

Build a circular collaboration

Building networks with sustainability experts

Workshop facilitation

Discovery

Els De Ridder

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Els joins We are Impact Collective

De toekomst van duurzaamheid | Els

About: Het Ellen McArthur instituut | Els

Breng purpose in je bedrijf in 5 stappen | Els

Cases

referentie cases

HAVEP

From a fragmented brand that lacked unique strength in the market, Els has positioned workwear brand Havep as a sustainable leader, a purpose-driven brand. By reinforcing the brand’s already existing sustainable DNA and introducing innovations, HAVEP established a strong position that attracted new customers.

HAVEP x VANHULLEY

Els helped to established a Vanhulley atelier on the Havep premises, where the female employees create amazing products using leftover textiles. This atelier provides them with employment and helps them pursue their dreams by providing education and training opportunities. Every product they make is crafted with passion and dedication, reflecting their courage and determination. When you buy one of these products, you get a unique item and support these women in their journey towards a better life. At the same time, you contribute to Havep’s commitment to social and environmental responsibility. It is a win-win situation for both people and the planet.

VPTextile

Els helped VP textile to provide a sustainable solution for recycling old B2B clothing to the highest standards. Typically, these garments are incinerated or sent to landfills. VP Textile offers innovative recycling methods for "difficult" textiles while ensuring customer convenience. The company monitors the project's impact to make it transparent and accountable.

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HAVEP

Rockstart

Don is responsible for the first fundraising of Rockstart's initial web&mobile funds, including selecting and leading deals in companies like 3D Hubs (Exit USD 330 million to NYSE: PRLB), Dan.com (USD 71.4 million Exit to NYSE: GDDY) and iClinic (Exit €27.9M to NASDAQ: AFYA). Additionally, he founded and led Rockstart's corporate practice, launching customized programs and competitions for renowned companies such as Philips, Sony, and Shell. Don guided Rockstart's successful expansion to Latin America, generating significant regional growth. He was part of the selection committee for the Energy, Agrifood, Digital Health, and AI programs, where he screened thousands of pitches and companies.

Volvo Cars Benelux

Stefaan partnered with Volvo to embark on a journey to the future, utilizing foresight and trend-watching tools and techniques. The objective was to envision and develop a set of future scenarios for car retail that would anticipate sustainable mobility perspectives.

VP Capital

Astrid provided coaching and support to the VP Capital family office, helping them with various subjects such as impact investing, sustainability transformation of heritage portfolio companies, philanthropy strategy, and ESG due diligence. Furthermore, Astrid helped VP Capital to attain Bcorp and SBTi status and advocated for impact investing in the Family Wealth world. Astrid committed to data readiness and compliance, engaging the team and portfolio companies in the journey towards sustainability and impact, creating strategic pillars and KPI models, managing public reputation, and facilitating communication with family members and external stakeholders. She also organized community events with HNW owners and portfolio companies, striving to transform wealth owners and existing companies into frontrunners in carbon reduction, circularity, regenerative practices, and inclusivity.

Impact Factory

Jan led the concept development for a circular hub, which involved repurposing a blackfield site into a thriving center for impact entrepreneurship. This initiative aligned the goals of both the city of Mechelen and the project developer. As part of his role, Jan developed a robust business model for the exploitation of the hub, strategies for market positioning and securing funding and financing.